Ghana Football Association (GFA) Executive Council member, Gifty Oware-Mensah, has defended the preferential treatment given to the Black Stars compared to other national teams like the Black Queens.
The Black Queens are presently awaiting unpaid bonuses from their qualification matches for both the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and the 2024 Olympic Games. Each player is reportedly owed $7,500. Reports indicate that due to increasing desperation, the players are contemplating boycotting the crucial Olympic qualifier against Zambia scheduled for February 23 unless the outstanding bonuses are promptly paid.
Oware-Mensah, who also chairs the Black Queens, acknowledged the financial challenges but justified the unequal treatment, citing the popularity and global recognition of the male team, the Black Stars.
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“The Ghana Football Association sells brands and products. Our foremost product is the Black Stars, and this spans across the world, not just in Ghana,” she told Joy Sports.
“The male team is the one that dominates the love and affection from the country.
“I find it quite worrying when I see people try to compare their treatment vis a vis the women’s team.
While acknowledging that the women’s teams have historically received less attention, Oware-Mensah insisted that the situation has improved in recent times. She assured the public that efforts were being made to address the outstanding bonuses, with promises made by the relevant authorities.
“When you check for some time now, they have been really getting their due. The difference is that yes we owe Black Queens and Princesses. We have spoken to them. Myself, The President [of GFA] Kurt OKraku and the Minister have all spoken to them.
“They have made promises to us that we’re going to get this money before we go into our next match. The Princesses will get theirs before the African Games which I think is what we should believe.”
“They say half a loaf is better than none, and the beauty of it is that the first reason anyone should have to wear the national jersey is because of patriotism,” she added.
This development follows recent revelations that the Black Stars received their bonuses even before participating in the AFCON 2023 in Côte d’Ivoire. In that tournament, Ghana failed to record a single win and were eliminated in the group stage for the second consecutive time.
The Black Queens bonuses has been in arrears since September 2023. The total arrears for three qualifications (six games) is around $180,000 for the entire team.
In December, GFA Prepared budget of over $8m for AFCON.
In January, $5m of that was released into an account named…
— Saddick Adams (@SaddickAdams) February 21, 2024
Meanwhile, the Black Queens have rather been impressive with 10 out of 11 wins.
Black Queens coach Nora Häuptle has a win rate of 91% so far.
As the team gears up for the Olympic Qualifiers against Zambia, @Bill_Eshun compares her record to other Ghanaian coaches in the last five years.#3Sports pic.twitter.com/SSM1OrpdCO
— #3Sports (@3SportsGh) February 23, 2024
The contrast in treatment has sparked public debate, questioning the fairness and equality in supporting Ghana’s various national teams.